The biggest halftime show in soccer history just got bigger. Justin Bieber has joined Madonna, Shakira and BTS as a co-headliner for the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, set for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The 11-minute performance, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, will also feature Afrobeats star Burna Boy, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, with characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets joining the celebration. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called it part of a mission to expand access to education worldwide, tying the show to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has already raised more than $50 million toward its $100 million goal.
“The FIFA World Cup brings the world together in a way nothing else can,” Bieber said in a statement. “I’m grateful to be part of this Halftime Show, and even more grateful knowing it’s already helping expand access to education for children around the world.”
Burna Boy, whose World Cup anthem “Dai Dai” with Shakira has dominated charts globally, echoed the sentiment. “To represent Africa on the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show is a privilege and a responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” he said.
FIFA expects roughly two billion viewers to tune in, making this Super Bowl-style spectacle a genuine first for the sport, and one of the biggest musical stages ever assembled.
